Carriage-return mechanism for typewriters



F.C. BREUCKMAN AND G. T. ARNOLD. CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FORTYPE-WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1919.

1,342,940. Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

gm-vemto w F. C. BREUCKMAN AND, G. T. ARNOLD. CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISMFOR TYPEWRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY28, 1919.

1 342,940, Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

43 \NSuxATiON H4 annex/W01 Ghana,

F. 0. BREUCKMAN AND G. T. ARNOLD. CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FORTYPEWRITEBS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, I919. '1 342,940, Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FRANKLIN G. BREUCKMAN AND GEORGE '1. ARNOLD, 0F MACKINAC ISLAND,MICHIGAN.

CARRIAGE-RETURN MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS.

Application filed July 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN C. BREUCK- MAN and GEORGE T. ARNOLD,citizens of the United States, residing at Mackinac Island, in thecounty of Mackinac and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Carriage-Return Mechanism for Typewriters, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved carriage return mechanism fortypewriters including means for imparting intermittent movement to theplaten roller when the carriage is returned, thereby spacing the lines.

The invention aims to provide a very simple, efficient and practicalelectrically operated carriage return mechanism of this kind, which maybe manufactured for arelatively low cost and sold at a reasonableprofit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electricallyoperated carriage return. mechanism including a key actuator for closingan electric circuit, in which a solenoid is included to be energized, byclosing the circuit, for sucking a core into the solenoid, to return thecarriage, subsequently to the carriage completing its movement acrossthe machine.

A'further general and most important object of the invention is theprovision of a very simple and efficient construction of means forsupporting and mounting the mechanism on the rear of the frame of thetypewriter, in such a position that a coupling connection may bealforded between the core and the carriage, in order to facilitate thereturn of the carriage.

A further and also an important object of the invention is the provisionof means for guiding the core, so that it may readily enter the solenoiddrawn thereinto without binding, said guiding means includingantifrictional means, in order to reduce the fric tion to a minimum,during the transverse movement of the core, particularly when thecarriage is being returned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of electricallyoperated means in circuit with the circuit of the carriage returnmechanism, and adapted to be actuated by closing such circuit, forimparting an intermittent movement to the platen Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented J 11110 8, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 313,923.

roller, for the purpose of spacing the lines when the carriage isreturned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platen rolleractuating means i11- cluding a solenoid having a core provided with aloose connection with the usual lever which actuates the dog whichimparts an intermittent movement to the roller, thereby permitting theplaten roller actuating means to be applied to all typewriter machinesgenerally in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means formounting the key on the frame of the typewriter, particularly in such amanner as to prevent short circuiting.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forthis deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction ofthe invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, theinvention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changesis claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what isclaimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, aswill be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional form oftypewriter, showing the carriage return mechanism and the platen rolleroperating means applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the typewriter showing the application of thecarriage re turn and platen roller operating mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in rear elevation of the carriagereturn mechanism, showing the supporting and guiding means therefor.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged end view of the carriage return mechanism and theguiding means, showing the anti-frictional members of the guiding means.

Fig. 5' is a longitudinal sectional view through the solenoid of thereturn mechanism, showing the guiding means for the plunger.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the typewriter showing the carriage return andplaten roller operating mechanisms applied.

Figi-9 is a detailperspective view of the parts 72 and75.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the lever or key 8.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the arm 52.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of aconventional form of typewriter, and 2 denotes a U- shaped clamp, whichis secured to the lower edge of the forward part of the frame, by meansofaset screw 3. This set screw has a reduced threaded portion 4, whichis threaded toone side ofthe clamp, and contacts; with the side of theframe to hold the clamp; in place. A suitable insulation 5 of u-formengages the clamp 2, that is between thesides-andthe bottom of the clampand the frame of the typewriter, thereby preventing short circuiting ofthe current. In fact,i,.theshoulder 6 adjacent where the reducedextension 4 is formed, contacts with one of-theouterportions of theclamp, so asto draw the clamp tight against the side of the frame of thetypewriter. The larger portionof the set screw 3 constitutes a pivot forthelever 8, there being a piece ofinsulation 9 between the end ofthereduced portion of the screw and the frame of the machine, therebypreventing short circuiting. One end of this lever has a conventionalform-of key 10,to be engaged by the finger of the operator.

A suitable clamp 11 is alsosecured to the sideof the forward portion ofthe frame byameans oftheset screw 12. The clamp 11- is UTshaped, but oneof its arms 13 extends upwardly farther than the other arm, and thisupwardly extending. arm 13 has an overhanging; stationary contactingpart 14. Apiece of insulation 15, U-shaped in form, is inserted'in theclamp 11, and through one side of which'the set screw 12 also passes.This insulation also prevents short circuiting, and engaging between theend of the setscrew 12 and the side of the frame is a piece of sheetmetal 16 and a piece of insulation 17. The insulation 17 avoids shortcircuitingthrough the set screw and theof this thumb nut a suitable wireor conductoiror lead 21 may be clamped, so that A thumb nut 20 thecurrent may be carried to the clamp 11. Another lead or conductor 22 isconnected to the screw 3 in any suitable manner, so that the current maypass from the screw over the leveryand then to the overhanging part 4,with which the contacting end 23 of the lever engagea'that is when thekey end of the lever is depressed.

Mounted upon the rear part of the frame of the typewriter are brackets24, which are secured in place hy-the U -shaped clamps 25 and setscrews26. 'lhesebr-ackets areangular form, and are provided with braces 27, toreinforce the parts of the brackets. Se cured by screws 28, to thedownwardly turned ends of the upper parts of the brackets is anelongated strip or plate 29 T- shaped in cross-section. Secured upon theupper part of the T-shaped strip or plate 29 by means of the screws30'is a plate 31, provided with upstanding spaced flanges 32, having.overhanging flanges 83, the edges of which are spaced. Also risingupwardly from the plate 31 is a central rib 34. The spaces between theadjacent edges of the flanges 33 may be termed a slot 35, to act as aguide for a supporting man of the core of a solenoid, which will besubsequentlydescribed.

Also secured to the T-shaped plate 29 by screws 86 is the shell orcasing37 of a sole noid 38. This solenoid comprises the usual spool 39,which is provided with a winding of wire 40, and has a bore 41, whichreceives the brass sleeve 42. The marginal edges of the ends of thisbrass sleeve are over-turned or flanged as at 43, to hold the sleeve'in'48,-having binding posts 49'and 50. The

casingor shell is provided for the purpose of protecting .the windingsof the solenoid. The solenoid core is secured in any suitable mannerinthe opening of theloop 51 of the arm 52, and the upper part of this arm52- is provided with an overhanging part 53, which terminates in anenlargement 54 having a loose connection, bymeans of the opening55 witha part of thecarriage 56 of the typewriter, as shown. This arm 52comprises two sections58 and 59. The section 59 carries theloop 51, andis. bolted at 60 to the section 58. The loop 51 is splitor separable asat'61=, and it is obvious that the loop may be securely tightened on thecore 44 by means of thescrew 62. Thelower end of the section 59 of thearm is providedwith oppositely disposed axially arranged lugs63. In

fact, these lugs 63 are constructed in the formofa single pimwhich isfixedvtrans= versely of the lower end of the section 59 of the arm,whereby the opposite ends of the pin project from the opposite sides ofthe lower end of the arm, to provide the lugs, and on which lugssuitable anti-frictional rollers or wheels 64 are journaled. Theseanti-frictional rollers or wheels are spaced,

and are large enough to project below the lower extremity of the section59 of the arm so that said wheels may engage upon opposite sides of theupstanding rib 34 of the plate 31. The lower part of the section 59 ofthe arm, at a point just above the marginal peripheries of the wheels orrollers 64 engage between the adjacent edges of the flanges 33. Theseflanges 33 are angular and parallel, and rise upwardly and havehorizontal portions extending toward each other, thereby causing theslot 35 to be formed. It will be observed that the wheels or rollers notonly ride upon the plate 31, upon opposite sides of the rib 34, but theyalso move under the flange In fact, the vibration of the carriage maycause the wheels to lift or raise from contact with the plate 31, andhence will contact with the under surfaces of the flanges 33, the wheelsor rollers at all times being in motion, that is while the carriage ismoving. By this method of mounting the arms, it will be observed thatfriction is practically reduced to a minimum, and furthermore, the corewill move freely with the arm and the carriage. It has been stated inthis specification that the overhanging part of the arm is looselyconnected to the carriage. This, in fact, means that a part of the.carriage engages through the slot 55, say for instance a rod 55 of thecarriage engages through the slot and in this case nuts orany othersuitable means such as collars, though not necessarily, engage upon0pposite sides of the enlargement of the overhanging part 53 of the arm,to hold the arm substantially more or less rigid with the rod. The leadsor conductors 65 and 66 are connected to the binding posts 49 and 50,and the conductor 65 is wrapped into engagement with the conductor 22,and these two conductors 22 and 65 may terminate into a suitable plug67, for entering a socket, whereby current from any suitable source ofsupply may be put into circuit with the carriage return mechanism.

Also mounted upon the carriage forwardly thereof is a second solenoid68, which, if desired, may be similar in construction to the solenoidheretofore mentioned, though not necessarily, for it is 'obvious thatany other construction of solenoid may be used. The wire or lead 66 isconnected to a binding post 69 of the solenoid 68, and the lead orconductor 21 is con nected to the other binding post 70 of the solenoid68. The solenoid 68 has a core 72, the reduced end of which is providedwith an elongated opening 73, which engages the upstanding arm 74 of thelever 75, which is pivoted at 76 to the carriage of the typewriter. Thislever is of the usual or conventional form, preferably as shown, thoughnot necessarily, and is designed to actuate a ratchet dog, whichcooperates with the ratchet end of the platen roller, so that when thelever 75 is actuated, an intermittent motion may be imparted to theroller. For example, after the carriage has moved to the left, duringthe typewriting of a line, the operator may depress the key 10, therebyclosing the circuit on both solenoids at the same time. The solenoidswill be energized, and their cores will be respectively drawn or suckedinto the bores of the solenoids. The core 4'4 will be drawn into thebore of its solenoid and hence return the carriage in a direction towardthe right. The core 72 of the solenoid 68 will be drawn into its bore,thereby oscillating the lever 75, which in turn will operate the ratchetdog of the typewriter, and impart a limited movement to the platenroller, thereby moving the roller sufficiently to space the line oftypewriting. At the end of each movement of the carriage, the key may bedepressed and in this way the carriage may be consecutively returnedautomatically and electrically. v

The invention having been set forth, "what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. In combination with a typewriter frame, of a carriage mounted thereonfor reciprocation, a solenoid mounted on the frame, a guide mounted onthe frame and comprising spaced flanges provided with overhanging parts,an arm attached to the carriage and having means engaging in the guideand riding between the bottom of the guide and the overhanging parts,for guiding the arm, a core carried by the arm electrically cooperatingwith the solenoid, whereby, when the solenoid is energized, the corewill be drawn therein, and cause the return of the carriage to initialposition.

2. In combination with a typewriter frame, of a carriage mounted thereonfor reciprocation, an electric circuit, a solenoid mounted on the frameand in said circuit, a guide mounted on the frame and comprising spacedflanges provided with overhanging parts, an arm attached to the carriageand having means engaging in the guide and riding between the bottom ofthe guide and the overhanging parts, for guiding the arm,

core carried by the arm electrically cooperating with the solenoid,whereby, when the solenoid is energized, the core will be drawn therein,and cause the return of the carriage to initial position, and stationaryand movable lever actuated contacts in the circuit, for energizing thesolenoid.

3. In combination with a typewriter frame, of a carriage mounted thereonfor reciprocation, an electric circuit, a solenoid having means engagingin the guide and riding between the bottom of the guide and theoverhanging parts, for guiding the arm, a

core carried by the arm electrically cooperating with the solenoid,whereby, when the solenoid is energized, the core will be drawn therein,and cause the return of the carriage 4 to initial position, means on thecarriage for imparting intermittent-motions to the platen roller of thecarriage, electrical means'in said circuit for actuating the first namedmeans, and means comprising a stationary contact and a lever actuatedmovable contact in the circuit for closing the same, for energizing thesolenoid and operating the electrical means, whereby the carriage mayreturn to initial position, and partial movement imparted to the platenroller.

4. In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, the combination witha frame, of a carriage thereon, an electric circuit, a solenoid in saidcircuit and mounted on'the frame, a core electrically cooperating withthe solenoid, a guide mounted on the frame, said guide comprising spacedflanges having overhanging parts, the bottom of the guide having anupstanding rib, an arm attached to the carriage and provided with adepending part having means engaging in the guide and riding uponopposite sides of the upstanding rib between the bottom of the guide andthe overhanging parts, for guiding theiarm, means for connecting thecore to the arm, and means lever actuated and being in circuit with thesolenoid, whereby as said means is actuated, the solenoid is energized,thereby causing the core to be drawn into the solenoid and hencereturning the carriage to initial position.

5. In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, the combination witha typewriter frame, of a reciprocable carriage thereon, an electriccircuit, a'solenoid in said circuit and being mounted on the frame ofthe machine, a guide mountedon the. frame of the machine, an armdetachably but rigidly connected to the carriage-and-havinganti-frictional operative engagement with said guide, said guide havingupper and lower parts to prevent upward and downward movement: of thearm swivelly relatively to'the guide, said guide having means on itsbottom cooperating with the anti-frictional means of the arm to preventlateral movement of the arm thereby preventing contact of theanti-frictional means with the sides of the guide, a core carried by thearm and electrically cooperating with the solenoid whereby when thesolenoid is energized, the core will be drawn therein,and cause thereturn of the carriage to initial position.

(i. In a carriage return mechanism for typewriters, the combination witha typewriter frame, of a reciprocable carriage thereon, a guide mountedon the frame of the machine, an electric circuit, a solenoid in saidcircuit and supported on one end of the guide, an arm fixedly connectedto the carriage and having a depending part provided with a rollingdevice engaging in said guide, said guide having a rail on its bottomand provided with upper and lower parts c0- operating with the rollingdevices to prevent upward movement of the same and hold them on eitherside of the rail, :1 core connected to thearm and electricallycooperating with the solenoid whereby when the solenoid is energized thecore will be drawn therein, and cause the return of the carriage toinitial position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

FRANKLIN C. BREUCKMAN. GEORGE T. ARNOLD.

lVitnesses MICHAEL Donn, LAURENCE G. LAPME.

